Items tagged with Windows 8

You knew this day was coming; Microsoft has been warning about the impending doom for some of its legacy software for quite some time. But now that we’ve reached January 12th, 2016, it’s time to say goodbye to Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10 in addition to the Windows 8 operating system. Actually, let us clarify that statement; you can still use the above mentioned software, but it would be foolish to do so. After today, Microsoft will no longer provide technical assistance or security updates for legacy versions of Internet Explorer and Windows 8. So when users of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 are given...Read more...

In case you didn’t already know, there’s a clear distinction between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 when it comes to product support from Microsoft. Windows 8 was released to consumers on October 26th, 2012, while Windows 8.1’s wide release took place on October 17th, 2013. But since Microsoft see Windows 8.1 as a service pack for Windows 8, those inexplicably still running the latter will be in for a rude awakening next week. That’s because on January 12th, Microsoft will no longer push out security updates for Windows 8, leaving those customers out in the cold. In Microsoft’s eyes, Windows 8.1 is...Read more...

Windows 10 is finally here. The new OS has been spit-shined and primed for an official release. As advertised, Windows 8/8.1 users can upgrade to the new operating system, provided that current Win8 installs have been properly activated. Make sure you check our comprehensive Migration Guide for details on upgrades and clean installs. MSFT's new operating system ushers in a host of new features and functions for media lovers and productivity. Part of the kit and caboodle is a brand new browser, embedded Microsoft Office, Cortana search assistant inclusion and most importantly for us gamers--the...Read more...

Move over, Intel Compute Stick; there’s a new sheriff in town in the miniature PC realm. Lenovo today pulled the wraps off its ideacentre Stick 300 which manages to cram an Intel Atom processor into a stick that measure just 3.94-inches x 1.5-inches x 0.59-inches. The minuscule ideacentre Stick 300 is powered by an Intel Atom Z3735F “Bay Trail” processor — which has a base frequency of 1.33GHz and can burst to 1.83GHz — and comes configured with 2GB of RAM. You’ll find 32GB of internal storage along while standard connectivity features include 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, a micro USB 2.0 port,...Read more...

Although we have to wait until October 27 when Halo 5 officially launches for the Xbox One, another Halo: Spartan Strike is now available for iOS, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and Steam for the relatively low price of $5.99. And you don’t have to worry about dealing with ridiculous microtransactions as seen with the Halo: Spartan Assault. All in-game purchases are taken care of with currency that you earn as you progress through the game. Spartan Strike is a top-down gaming affair and you control your on-screen action using dual control sticks. Compared to Spartan Assault, Microsoft says that Spartan...Read more...

Microsoft ended support for Windows XP a year ago, but that hasn't stopped nearly two out of every 10 Windows users from clinging to the legacy operating system, according to data collected by Net Applications. What's even more interesting about Windows XP's 16.94 percent of the desktop PC market is that it once again has eclipsed the number of Windows 8 and 8.1 users combined.Here's the deal -- based on Net Application's numbers, Windows 8.1 ended March with a 10.55 percent share of the desktop PC market while Windows 8 crossed over in April with a 3.52 percent share. Between the to, that works...Read more...

It has been a few weeks since Microsoft released its Technical Preview of Windows 10 -- which means we've had enough time to walk around the vehicle, kick the tires, and investigate the product in its current form. After the drubbing that Windows 8 took in the tech press and from angry users, Microsoft badly needs this new operating system to be a success, but simply cramming the Start menu back into the OS isn't going to cut it. Windows 10 Hands-On: Beyond The Start Menu, What You Need To Know Don't mistake us here. It's still important to evaluate Windows 10 as a work-in-progress but we're going...Read more...

At the risk of getting people's hopes up, the web is quickly filling with reports that Microsoft is planning to offer Windows 9 (codenamed Threshold) as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users. The original source of the rumor comes from an Indonesian-language website quoting Andreas Diantor, President of Microsoft Indonesia, as saying that Windows 8 device owners will receive the new operating system as a free update. Sounds good, doesn't it? Whether or not it's true remains to be seen -- several sites have used the word "confirmed" when referencing the foreign report, and while we're keeping out fingers...Read more...

It appears that there is still some life left in Window’s 8. Microsoft’s current operating system has been a disappointment for the company since its release. While the OS has seen its percentage of user shares increase it has been unable to outpace Windows Vista during the same time period six years ago. According to web analytics firm Net Applications, the combined user share for Windows 8 and 8.1 is at 13.4 percent of the worlds combined number of desktops and notebooks for the month of August. That is up nine-tenths of a percentage point from July and is the first time since May...Read more...

Of all the things that Windows 8 brought to the table, it's the much-maligned Start Screen that seems to get most of the attention. That's unfortunate, because there were many other aspects of the OS that made it a major release. Take for example the fact that it was the first version of Windows to include an app store. That feature might seem minor to OS X and Linux users who've had access to their own app stores for a while, but for Windows, the addition was significant. However, as significant as the addition may be, the app store in Windows 8 is easily one of the worst around - if not the worst...Read more...

When we reported on the potential incentives Microsoft could be bringing with Windows 9 earlier this month, we talked about Windows 8.1's "Update 2" being a little thinner than was originally planned. As Microsoft has finally rolled that update out this week, we can see that's just the case. To some, the update might not even be worth pursuing, though we'd still recommend opting in for it to keep as up-to-date as possible. The interesting thing about Update 2 is that at the moment, it's an "optional" update. This alone might cause many to go a while without it, and proves that it's really not a...Read more...

For months, it's been rumored that Microsoft would unveil a new version of Windows 8.1 with specific Bing branding and a lower price tag. Now the company has formally unveiled the SKU, which will carry a "reduced cost" to manufacturers of PCs that cost less than $250. Microsoft also makes Windows free to devices with a screen smaller than nine inches, What this means is that devices that sell for less than $250 and have screens smaller than nine inches will get W8.1 + Bing for free. Other devices will be able to buy W8.1 at a reduced price, but the scope of the discount isn't known. The impact...Read more...

China's Central Government Procurement Center has reportedly issued a ban on installing Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system on government computers. The ban is supposedly in place to ensure computer security after Microsoft decided to end support for Windows XP last April, a legacy OS that was released to the public nearly 13 years ago. Citing a report from the Xinhua news agency, Reuters says the ban was included on part of a notice on the use of energy-saving products posted to its website last week, but that the notice didn't say how the ban would have any positive effect on energy savings,...Read more...

Lenovo's Australian portal had an oopsy-daisy moment over the weekend when it inadvertently posted a full listing for its as-yet unannounced ThinkPad 10 tablet. The listing has since been pulled offline, though with the cat out of the bag, Lenovo is at least willing to concede that the ThinkPad 10 is "coming soon," as it states on its ThinkPad page. The ThinkPad 10 is bigger version of the ThinkPad 8 that we recently reviewed. Assuming the leaked specs were accurate, it will sport a 10.1-inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) display with a 1920x1200 resolution powered by an Intel Bay Trail Z3795 quad-core...Read more...